Now, past mid-month, the Ides of May, fast-breaking events continue to crowd the news calendar. Those who have taken advantage of well-deserved vacations are savoring “the last days of summer,” as the song goes, before they return home to work, to classes opening for the new school year, as well as for civic, religious, local, and national concerns and responsibilities.
The traditional Flores de Mayo, as well as a number of town fiestas in neighboring Cebu cities, have taken up the first half of the month as I reported last week. Other feasts this month include that of San Isidro Labrador, the patron of farmers, last May 15th. In a trip to Madrid years ago, kind hosts brought us to visit his house. That’s when I first learned that as a farmer, he used to to go to early morning Mass, arousing the concern of the farm owner who expected him to start plowing the field at break of day. On sending someone to check on him, he learned that an angel plowed in the field until San Isidro arrived after Mass! The story is now part of the accounts of San Isidro’s religious devotion and industry.
Then last Wednesday, the 16th, my late husband’s hometown, Moalboal, celebrated its town fiesta in honor of San Juan Nepomuceno, patron of the seal of the confessional. I have not been able to go there as often as when he was still alive, since I would usually be in the United States these months visiting my children in the years after he died. This year, one of his nieces as well as my comadre there hoped I could go, but I had to beat my deadline for this column.
And now, let me share with you activities in organizations I am involved with. Yesterday, Zonta Club of Cebu I held its final General Membership Meeting for Biennium 2010 to 2012 at the Sinulog Room of the City Sports Club. Next month, newly elected offers and Board Members will be inducted into office. Stella Bernabe, our immediate past president, gave a detailed audio-visual report about the club’s accomplishments for the ending biennium.
She briefly recalled the Cebu Zonta Club mission and vision since it was founded in 1968 and chartered in 1969. This was followed with the Club’s goals for 2010 to 2012 and our successful implementation of the T.E.A.M. S.H.I.N.E. goals of Zonta I as an International District Club: T for Training; E for Education through public education; A for Advanced Education; M for Membership; S for Streamlined service projects; H for Harnessed club resources; I for Improved Status of Women; N for Networking with like-minded organizations; and E for Empowering women with right knowledge and fund raising. For us members who have worked with the Zonta Club of Cebu I, it was an illuminating overall view of our accomplishments. Stella thanked us as she welcomed incoming President Lucille Colina and the new Board take over for the next Biebium, 2012 to 2014. We in turn applauded her for her successfull dynamic leadership.
Our monthly Women’s Kapihan at 2 p.m. on radio dyLA last Saturday, May 12th, on the subject of women and labor, May being Labor Month, turned out to be most lively with our panelists of Cebu Women’s Network officers and board members, all of whom have been involved with women and labor in their various professional and business sectors, and who continue to be involved in the subject in their continuing public service activities, even after early retirement. With our guest, Chief Labor Employment Officer Grace Diaz of the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas and a CWN member, the panel discussed new benefits for women according to DOLE guidelines: a new special two-month leave for gynecology surgery cases in addition to already granted leaves; solo parent leave and new guidelines for the safety and health of agents in the new call center industry who usually work in night shifts. Also, labor considerations for women with disabilities. Also discussed were the current job fairs and continuing labor education.
And now, a belated report on our first-Sunday-of-the month meeting of Cebu United Radio and TV Artists Inc. (Curta) last May 6th at the Rizada residence in Tisa, Cebu City. We discussed a planned income-generating project for the health and financial concerns of our members. Like the Seven Last Words program aired with contributing sposnors last Holy Week, this project is a Department of Labor-oriented drama series in cooperation with the Sisters of St. Paul, the Pauline Sisters, whose mission primarily uses broadcast media, alongside with print media. Curta is working on this project with Pauline Sister Amelyn, who was then still in Manila discussing this and other projects of theirs with the Pauline Sisters office there.
On current events, the top news event of last month , the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona resumed last Monday. It will last only until Wednesday, instead of Thursday, and resume Tuesday next week on the 38th day of the impeachment trial of Corona, when he is expected to personally appear to testify.
The trial is expected to close by the end of May. Atangi ang mosunod nga mga adlaw niini, or Abangan ang susunod! Oh, and not to forget the Tulfo vs. Barreto/Santiago imbroglio at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Let’s keep posted on the news.
Till next week, then, may God continue to bless us, one and all!